It Happened One Night Essay Questions

Why does Ellie want to break free from her father?

As a wealthy heiress, Ellie has never been afforded much independence or autonomy. As she explains to Peter over breakfast, even though he thinks she is spoiled, she has never had enough of an opportunity to make her own decisions—which makes her, in a way, deprived rather than spoiled. Indeed, at the beginning, her father accuses her of having married King Westley precisely because he doesn't like King. Ellie's rebellion is for the sake of rebellion, because she has never felt able to break free from constant supervision in the past.

How are Peter and Ellie similar? How are they different?

Peter and Ellie are similar in that they both have rather spunky and confident attitudes at the start of the film. The reason they do not get along at first is because they both fight for a seat on the bus and are not willing to settle for anything less than what they want. This verve and self regard make them early adversaries, but eventually makes them rather compatible companions. Their differences are primarily socioeconomic. While Peter is an earthy newspaperman accustomed to taking the bus, Ellie is a coddled heiress who expects the world to open its arms to her. At first, Ellie finds Peter crude and Peter finds Ellie snobby and spoiled.

At what moments does the film make reference to the Great Depression?

The era in which the film takes place is not referenced very explicitly, but there are a few moments in which director Frank Capra nods to the Great Depression affecting the country. When the bus driver accidentally drives into the mud, a young boy begins sobbing loudly about the fact that his mother passed out from hunger. They are on their way to New York in pursuit of a job opportunity, but they spent all their money on the bus ticket, and so have not been able to eat for the last 24 hours. The desperate story of the boy and his mother puts the economic climate of the country in perspective, as well as contrasting with Ellie's enormous wealth (by contrast, she was turning down food from her father in the first scene). Then later, when Peter is driving back to the motel to propose to Ellie, he stops for a passing train. Hollering and enthusiastic about his imminent proposal, Peter waves to the workers as they pass on the train. For the majority of the film, we have been in the company of Peter and Ellie, an heiress and an urban professional. In this moment we see working-class people, a group of dust-covered industrial workers on the clock. They wave and cheer at the enthusiastic Peter, an image of connection and joy even during the hardships of the Great Depression.

What final instances of dramatic irony threaten to tear Peter and Ellie apart?

At the end, Ellie is awakened by Zeke the motel owner and his wife. She sees Peter's empty bed and assumes that he has rejected her and left her in the night. We the viewers know that this is not the case—that in fact he left in order to go collect money and get ready to propose—but Ellie has no idea. She then goes back to her father and King Westley, and when Peter learns this, he assumes that she is rejecting him. Both of the lovers wrongly assume that the other does not love them. We the audience know this isn't the case, which causes a dramatic irony as we watch them almost needlessly lose each other.

Why does Mr. Andrews approve of Peter?

Even though Peter is a little rough around the edges, Mr. Andrews thinks that he is a good match for his headstrong daughter. For one thing, Peter admits that he loves Ellie in a comically forthright way that is unmistakably honest. This certainly charms Mr. Andrews. Additionally, Peter doesn't accept any of the reward money, and only wants money for the few expenses that he paid for on the journey. This proves to Mr. Andrews that Peter's love is real and that he cannot be bought. This endears Mr. Andrews to such an extent that he encourages Ellie to leave her wedding to King Westley to be with the surly newspaperman, Peter Warne.